Playing games while protests rage

Archived version: https://archive.is/31MzM

[The "Sims killer"] inZOI has a lot of issues, lets talk about them.

"I think this whole debate ... is hard to solve when people aren't on the fundamental same page about the existence of a trans identity and the fact that it is a valid identity."

Also, food influencers making anti-ICE content indicates a bigger, notable political shift.

cross-posted from: https://reddthat.com/post/43306752

Police in northwestern China are cracking down on writers of online erotic fiction across the country, including many college students, according to RFA sources and media reports, amid concern that officers are punishing people outside their jurisdiction.

Police in Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province, have been summoning writers who don’t even live there. A report from Caixin media group said some have been referred to police for prosecution, and anecdotal evidence indicates writers are facing substantial fines.

A source who spoke to Radio Free Asia on condition of anonymity for safety reasons said the crackdown could involve 200-300 writers.

Their cases have also sparked a legal debate over the definition of “obscene materials” and renewed public discussion on the boundaries of creative freedom. Known as “Danmei,” the genre features romantic relationships between male characters. It originated in Japan and has become popular in China.

Amid tightened restrictions in China, many writers have turned to Haitang Culture, a Taiwanese-based adult fiction website established in 2015 to publish their work. The website on the democratic island doesn’t force censorship and allows explicit written content. Most readers are females.

Authorities in China have reacted. Last year, two China-based distributors affiliated with Haitang Culture were arrested for “assisting in information network criminal activities,” according to Shuiping Jiyuan, a news portal on the WeChat social media platform.

The recent police crackdown in Lanzhou followed similar moves in the eastern province of Anhui in June 2024, where authorities began arresting writers of online erotic fiction under the charge of “producing and distributing obscene materials for profit,” resulting in heavy fines and even prison sentences.

Police are seeking out writers even when they leave outside their jurisdiction - a practice that critics call “offshore fishing,” implying the motive of police is financial or political, rather than strictly legal.

“I don’t understand what they’re trying to do—are they pushing political correctness, or are they just desperate for money?” said Liu Yang, a veteran media professional in Lanzhou, told Radio Free Asia. “The police are short on funds, and now even arrests have become a way to make money.”

Ubisoft developers have told a French court that former execs Serge Hascoet, Tommy Francois, and Guillaume Patrux alleg…

Voice actors have been on strike since July 2024

Ghibli's characters have inspired women and girls across generations—but do these fantastical worlds reflect the reality for women making films at Studio Ghibli, and are their ambitions equally respected?

YouTube didn’t publicly announce the change.

Rumors of the actor's inappropriate behavior with younger women have swirled for decades. Now, nine people have come forward with their stories.

Archived version without paywall: https://archive.is/JjnTN

Imagine getting up on stage for a presentation that would have cost in the ballpark of $500,000, all to promote your new video game, and instead of having people talk about it, they are instead talking about: a) Your stupid hat b) How your little speech sounded like a wizard breathed life into a downvoted […]

Archived version: https://archive.is/kr1Uf

Judges consider verdicts against three men after hearing four days of evidence that prosecutor calls ‘overwhelming’

Archived version: https://archive.is/FJnyS

The mom of a trans girl pleaded with a New York Times producer not to use audio captured in a vulnerable moment. Against her will, the company is slated to use the clip for its new podcast.

“AI is rizzing them up in a very unhealthy way at the moment.”

Archived version: https://archive.is/KMtnz

Jonathan Joss, 'King of the Hill' actor, dies in a shooting at 59

There’s no such thing as an “alpha male.” It’s a false myth with no bases in biology or science. That fact, however, hasn’t stopped the pseudoscience behind a natural dominance hierarchy among men from spreading like a virus through our media culture.

When we feel politically helpless, we turn to 'subversive' entertainment. But winning within the realm of pop culture is a poor substitute for political power.

Archived version: https://archive.is/IuhnQ

A PBS-affiliated television station in New York has scrubbed its archives of at least three educational programs concerning transgender identities and drag expression. This comes during a time when President Donald Trump is targeting news stations — particularly PBS, NPR, and ABC News — for their allegedly biased criticism of him.

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/22889416

How to Fire J.K. Rowling: a guide to ethical engagement with Harry Potter

Personal note: This is not really news for anyone who is familiar with the TERF Supreme, but if anyone needs a concise write-up of her rampant bigotry, here is one.

Against the backdrop of Trump’s anti-DEI agenda, Hollywood is seeing a resurgence in anti-woke conservative programming. Producers say reactionary politics will hurt an industry already in crisis.

Archived version without paywall: https://archive.is/cmc9D

The Buffalo shooter says he was radicalized by memes.

An exciting moment in queer theatre.

Mark Brown, who posts game explainers to his Game Maker’s Toolkit channel, says his persona has been plagiarized.

Archived version without paywall: https://archive.is/Zn3PQ